Real Madrid powers past Osasuna
Real Madrid put a difficult week behind it by rallying to defeat 10-man Osasuna, 3-1, on Sunday to make certain that it not lose further ground to Primera Liga leader Barcelona.
Real Madrid put a difficult week behind it by rallying to defeat 10-man Osasuna, 3-1, on Sunday to make certain that it not lose further ground to Primera Liga leader Barcelona.
Just days after Ramon Calderon resigned as president amid allegations of vote-rigging at the club’s last general assembly, Juande Ramos’ side showed character to overcome rock-bottom Osasuna and ensure the gap between itself and Barca was still 12 points at the halfway stage of the season.
Javad Nekounam headed the Navarran side ahead in the 19th minute from Jaroslav Plasil’s cross but Madrid recovered to equalize through Sergio Ramos (50).
In-form striker Gonzalo Higuain, in the side ahead of Klaas Jan Huntelaar, scored the second after 64 minutes before Arjen Robben added another in injury time. Osasuna had Juanfran dismissed for a second caution in the 84th minute when he was controversially booked twice for diving.
Valencia’s recent good form suffered a blip as it lost 3-2 at Athletic Bilbao despite leading twice.David Villa - who later went off injured - gave Los Che a fourth-minute lead and though Igor Gabilondo (18) leveled, Fernando Morientes’ strike on the half-hour restored the lead for Unai Emery’s men.
However talented young midfielder Javi Martinez headed the Basques level in the 43rd minute before Fernando Llorente smashed home a penalty in the 90th minute after Manuel Fernandes - who was subsequently sent off - fouled Javi Martinez in the box.
European hopeful Villarreal scored two first-half goals to beat Real Mallorca, 2-0, at El Madrigal.
Former Mallorca playmaker Ariel Ibagaza created the first by crossing for left-back Joan Capdevila to head home in the 29th minute.
Giuseppe Rossi doubled the lead from the penalty spot less than three minutes later after Santi Cazorla was fouled by Ivan Ramis.
Espanyol’s season plumbed new depths as it suffered a 4-0 hammering at Malaga.
Adrian Lopez (35), Apono (penalty, 57), Nabil Baha (penalty, 85) and Albert Luque did the damage against Jose Manuel Esnal’s hapless side.
Struggling Recreativo Huelva beat Sporting Gijon, 2-0, at home to boost its survival hopes and pull away from the bottom three.
Sporting defender Jorge’s early own goal gifted Recre the lead and Adrian Colunga sealed the win in the 55th minute.
Real Betis also climbed further from the relegation zone with a creditable 3-1 win away to Valladolid.
Xisco gave the Beticos a 17th-minute lead only for Luis Prieto to head the home side level. But striker Sergio Garcia (63 and 90) scored the vital goals to take all three points back south.
On-loan striker Nikola Zigic earned Racing Santander a 1-0 win against Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, converting Oscar Serrano’s cross.
Last night Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o both struck twice as Barcelona thrashed Deportivo La Coruna, 5-0, at the Nou Camp to amass a record total of 50 points at the league’s halfway stage.
In Andalucia, Renato’s late strike gave Sevilla an unconvincing 1-0 win over promoted side Numancia and saw the Andalusians move provisionally into second place after 19 rounds of the championship.
Atletico Madrid was forced to settle for a point against Almeria as both sides were reduced to 10 men in a scrappy encounter.
Kala Uche had given Almeria the early lead before Florent Sinama-Pongolle equalized and neither side was able to find a winner - despite the 54th-minute dismissal of Almeria defender Hernan Pellerano.
Atletico midfielder Ever Banega, making a rare start, was sent off in the 90th minute for a second yellow card.